The Kermit is the Rolex Submariner Date reference 16610LV; the Starbucks is the nickname commonly used for reference 126610LV. Both have green bezels and black dials, but they belong to different generations and use different bezel materials. The 116610LV, nicknamed the Hulk, sits between them in the lineage. Rolex identifies these watches by reference number, not by collector nickname.
What are the Kermit and Starbucks Submariners?
Kermit refers to the 16610LV, a Submariner Date Rolex introduced for the model’s 50th anniversary. It pairs a black lacquer dial with a green anodized aluminium bezel insert. Rolex describes it as the first Submariner in the range with a green bezel. Rolex’s Submariner history places its introduction in 2003.
Starbucks is the collector nickname commonly applied to the 126610LV. Rolex’s brochure identifies that watch by its reference and specifies a 41 mm Oystersteel case, black dial, green ceramic Cerachrom bezel and calibre 3235. The nickname is informal; reference 126610LV is the precise identifier. Rolex’s 126610LV brochure
Kermit vs. Starbucks: the key differences
| Reference | Common nickname | Green bezel | Dial | Other established details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16610LV | Kermit | Green anodized aluminium insert | Black lacquer | Submariner Date; introduced for the Submariner’s 50th anniversary in 2003, according to Rolex’s history |
| 116610LV | Hulk | Not stated in the cited reference guide | Not stated in the cited reference guide | Nickname commonly used for the intervening green Submariner reference; full specifications are not established here |
| 126610LV | Starbucks | Green ceramic Cerachrom | Black | 41 mm Oystersteel case; calibre 3235; Rolex lists 300 m water resistance |
The Kermit and Starbucks share the basic visual cue of a green bezel against a black dial, but the bezel insert material is a clear generational distinction: anodized aluminium on the 16610LV and ceramic Cerachrom on the 126610LV. Rolex’s history says Cerachrom was introduced on the Submariner Date in 2005 and later used across the Submariner range. Rolex’s Submariner history
#1 Best Overall
- Pre-Loved Condition: Excellent; Light scratching and tarnishing throughout hardware
- 40mm
- Made in Switzerland
- Flip-lock clasp
- Signature upon delivery required
Where the Hulk fits
The 116610LV, commonly called the Hulk by collectors, is the green Submariner reference between the 16610LV Kermit and 126610LV Starbucks in this lineage. The nickname mapping is secondary-source usage, not Rolex model nomenclature. Swiss Watch Club’s Submariner reference guide
That makes the reference number especially useful when discussing listings or comparing watches: “Kermit,” “Hulk” and “Starbucks” are shorthand, and nickname use can vary. The available specifications here do not support a full technical comparison of the 116610LV with the other two references.
What Rolex specifies for the 126610LV
Rolex’s official brochure lists the following details for reference 126610LV. These are manufacturer specifications, not results of independent testing.
- Case: 41 mm Oystersteel Oyster case.
- Bezel: unidirectional, 60-minute graduated bezel with a green ceramic Cerachrom insert.
- Movement: calibre 3235.
- Water resistance: 300 metres (1,000 feet), as specified by Rolex.
- Precision: −2/+2 seconds per day after casing, as specified by Rolex.
- Other features: screw-down crown with Triplock system and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with a Cyclops date lens.
How to compare two actual examples
Start with the reference, then compare like with like. For the 16610LV and 126610LV, the available manufacturer information establishes different bezel materials and generations, while the Rolex brochure provides detailed specifications for the latter. For a pre-owned watch, the reference alone does not establish the condition or originality of that particular example.
Recommended Free Tools
- Confirm the reference: establish whether the watch is a 16610LV, 116610LV or 126610LV rather than relying on a nickname in a listing.
- Check the identifying configuration: compare bezel material and dial against the relevant reference’s documented details.
- Assess the individual watch: condition, service history, originality, seller reputation and return or authentication terms require verification for the specific example.
No current price, resale range, investment return or availability claim is established here. Those depend on date, market and individual watch, and should not be inferred from the reference or nickname alone.
Reported bezel-shade variation on the Starbucks
Monochrome reported that a brighter, more saturated green bezel shade appeared on some 126610LV examples in 2023. This is secondary reporting; it does not establish an official Rolex change, a definitive production cutoff or a serial-number boundary. Treat shade observations as reports about examples, not as a reliable way to date or authenticate a watch. Monochrome Watches’ comparison of green Rolex Submariners
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